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Sesotho Place Name Word List


Continents - Dikontinente

English Sesotho
Africa Afrika
Asia Asia
Europe Yuropo (Yoropo / Jiropo)
North America Amerika Leboya
South America Amerika Borwa

Oceans - Mawatle

English Sesotho
Atlantic Ocean Lewatle la Atlelantiki
Indian Ocean Lewatle la India
Pacific Ocean Lewatle la Phasifiki

Geographical regions - Ditereke tsa thutafatshe

English Sesotho
Middle East Botjhabela Bohare
Kalahari Kgalahadi
North Pole Palo e ka leboya
South Pole Palo e ka borwa

Countries - Dinaha

English Sesotho
Angola Angola
Belgium Belgiamo
Botswana Botswana
Burundi Burundi
China Tjhaena
Congo Kongo
Democratic Republic of Congo Rephabliki ya Demokrasi ya Kongo
Egypt Egepeta
England Engelane
France Fora
Germany Jeremane
Greece Gerikelane
India India
Italy Itali
Japan Japane
Kenya Kenya
Lesotho Lesotho
Mali Mali
Malawi Malawi
Mozambique Mozambiki (Potoketsi)
Namibia Namibia
(The) Netherlands Netherlane
Russia Rashea
Rwanda Rwanda
South Africa Afrika Borwa
Swaziland Swatsing
Tanzania Tanzania
Uganda Uganda
USA Amerika
Zambia Zambia
Zimbabwe Zimbabwe

South African place names in Sesotho

Republic of South Africa - Rephabliki ya Afrika Borwa
South Africa - Afrika Borwa

Provinces - Diporovinse

English Sesotho
Eastern Cape Kapa Botjhabela
Free State Foreistata (Foreisetata / Freistata)
Gauteng Gauteng
KwaZulu-Natal Kwazulu-Natala
Limpopo Limpopo
Mpumalanga Mpumalanga
Northern Cape Kapa Leboya
North West Leboya Bophirimela
Western Cape Kapa Bophirimela

Towns and cities - Ditoropo le Metse

English Sesotho Literal meaning
Bethlehem Bohlokong Place of pain / Type of shrub found in the area
Bloemfontein Mangaung Place of the cheetahs
Bothaville Mophate Place where people wander / Clay pot
Brandfort Majwemasweu White stones
Cape Town Motse Kapa (Kapa) City Cape
Clarens Botjheletsane Slippery place
Clocolan Hlohlowane Stamp and fight
Dewetsdorp Morojaneng Place of young cattle
Durban Thekong  
East London Monti  
Edenville Ngwathe To create / To dish up food
Ellisras Lephalale To flow
Fauresmith Forismethe Phonological adaptation of original name
Ficksburg Marallaneng At the ridges
Fouriesburg Mashaeng At Mashae's place
Frankfort Namahadi Willow river
Harrismith Thaba Ntsho  
Heilbron Phiritona Male hyena
Hennenman Dikgutsaneng Place of orphans
Hoopstad Maabala They who walk with difficulty
Hoopstad Maokaneng At the small thorn trees
Johannesburg Gauteng / Kgauteng Place of gold
Kestell Tlholong Place of victory
Kimberley Daemaneng Place of diamonds
Koffiefontein Ditlhake Place of reeds
Kroonstad Maokeng At the thorn trees
Marquard Moemaneng Place of Moemane
Parys Pareisi Phonological adaptation of original name
Parys Tumahole Well-known place
Philippolis Poding-tse-Rolo / Podingtserolo Place of the bontebok
Pietermaritzburg Mokokotlofo  
Pietersburg Polokwane Place of safety
Port Elizabeth Baye Bay
Pretoria Tshwane Named after a local chief called Tshwane
Pretoria Pritoriya Phonological adaptation of original name
Reddersburg Matoporong At the Doppers
(member of Gereformeerde Kerk/Reformed Chuch)
Reitz Petsana Little foal
Rosendal Mautse Danger
Rustenburg Tlhabane Named after local chief / Spear
Sasolburg Ditamateng Place of tamatoes
Senekal Matwabeng Place of scabies
Senekal Senekane Phonological adaptation of original name
Steynsrus Matlwangtlwang Where small house were built haphazardly
Steynsrus Mookana Thorn bush
Theunissen Masilo Name of character from folklore
Theunissen Mmasilo Mother of Silo
Trompsburg Mmadikgetla Mother of eggshells
Tweeling Mafahlaneng At the little twins
Tweespruit Matshelamabedi / Melatswanammedi Two crossings
Tweespruit Thulama Askew
Van Stadensrus Mmoko Phonological adaptation of name Mook
Ventersburg Mmamahabane Mother of Habane
Verkeerdevlei Motati The hasty one
Viljoenskroon Rammolotsi Father of one who sends the young ones to initiation school
Virginia Meloding Place of melodies
Warmbaths Bela-bela Boil
Welkom Thabong Place of happiness
Welkom Kamohelo Welcome
Wepener Qibing Place of otters
Winburg Makeleketla Where things are obtained easily
Witsieshoek Qwaqwa  
Zastron Matlakeng At the vultures

Other place names taken from Sesotho

Place name Meaning
Dihlabeng From 'Metsi a Dihlaba'
Dipalesang Place of flowers
Kopanong Meeting place
Lejweleputswa Grey stones
Lesedi Light
Letsemeng Spirit of co-operation
Mafube Dawning of the new day
Maletswai Place of salt
Masilonyana Named after mountain
Matatiele The ducks have flown
Matjhabeng Where nations meet
Metsimaholo

Great water

Moqhaka Crown
Motheo Founding place
Nala Affluence
Naledi Star
Nokeng tsa Taemane Rivers of diamonds
Sedibeng In the fountain
Setsoto Beauty
Tswelopele Progress

Rivers - Dinoka

English Sesotho Literal Meaning
Apies Tshwane Monkey
Blood River Nkome  
Buffalo River Mosinyathi  
Bushmans River Barwa  
Caledon Mohokare / Mogakare In the middle
Crocodile Mokwena Crocodile
Elands Namahadi Much meat
False Ntha False
Kei Noka ya Kei  
Limpopo Noka ya Limpopo  
Mooi Tlokwe  
Olifants Lepelle  
Orange Senqu  
Renoster Ngwathe  
Sabie Lesaba Sand (river)
Sand Lehlabathe  
Sand Moetlamogale River that is violent when in flood
Sundays Ntaka  
Tugela Lethuela  
Vaal Lekwa / Lekoa  
Wilge Namahadi Willow river

Mountains - Dithaba

English Sesotho
Aasvoëlberg Matlakeng
Cairntoul Makhollo
Drakensberg Maloti / Quathlamba / Qathlamba
Maluti Maloti
Mont-aux-Sources Phofung / Pofung
Soutpans Dithaba tsa Mogale / Letswai

Sources consulted:
1) Bukantswe - http://bukantswe.sesotho.org
2) DU PLESSIS, J.A., GILDENHUYS, J.G. & MOILOA, J.J. 1986. Tweetalige Woordeboek Afrikaans-Suid-Sotho / Bukantswe ya Maleme-Pedi Sesotho-Seafrikanse. Goodwood : Via Afrika. 269p.
3) KOK, C.R. & BOTHA, L.C. 1978. Suid-Sotho Afrikaans Skoolwoordeboek. Kaapstad : Juta. 226p.
4) RAPER, P.E. 2004. New Dictionary of South African Place Names. Jeppestown : Jonathan Ball. 421p.
5) WILKEN, P. (Translator: KHOTSENG, B.) 1994. Understanding Everyday Sesotho. Cape Town : Maskew Miller Longman. 94p.


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J. Olivier (2009)


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